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Dong-chul Moon, PT, MS1), Kyoung K im, PT, PhD1)*, Su-kyoung Lee, PT, PhD2)
1) Department
Abstract. [Purpose] The aim of this study was to determine the immediate effect of short-foot exercise (SFE)
on the dynamic balance of subjects with excessively pronated feet. [Subjects] This study included 18 subjects with
excessively pronated feet (navicular drop 10mm) selected using the navicular drop test. [Methods] The limit of
stability (LOS) was measured to determine the changes in the dynamic balance from before and after SFE in the
standing and sitting positions. [Result] After the SFE, LOS increased significantly in all areas, namely, the left,
right, front, back, and overall. [Conclusion] SFE immediately improved the dynamic balance of subjects with excessively pronated feet. Subsequent studies will be conducted to examine the effects of SFE performed over the long
term on postural stability.
Key words: Short-foot exercise, Limit of stability, Pronated feet
(This article was submitted Jul. 4, 2013, and was accepted Aug. 17, 2013)
INTRODUCTION
Balance is a process through which the center of gravity
is maintained by the bodys support base, and it has been
measured by measurement of lower extremity function1).
Postural control is an automatic response of the visual,
vestibular, and proprioception systems. These peripheral
elements supply diverse information to the central nervous
system, which on receiving the information, causes the appropriate muscle responses to maintain posture. The lower
extremity chain is connected with the foot, ankle, knee,
and hip joint. Of these, the feet are placed at the farthest
point and acts as the support base; however, because they
are rather small, it is difficult for them to maintain balance.
Therefore, a small dynamic change in the foot, i.e., the support base, could affect the postural control of the entire
body2). With regard to the arch of the foot, the foot has a
pronated and supinated structure, and it can affect proprioceptive inputs through the movement of joints, changes in
the contact area, and muscle strategy for maintaining the
stability of the support base35). Flat feet have excessive
subtalar joint pronation; in the case of flat feet, instability
and damage to the lower extremity cause hypermobility
and passive instability5), and more neurological control by
the neuromuscular system is required to maintain stability
and balance. Thus, while the feet are supporting the body
*Corresponding author. Kyoung Kim (e-mail: kykim257@
hanmail.net)
2014 The Society of Physical Therapy Science
This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Non-Commercial No Derivatives (by-ncnd) License <http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/3.0/>.
Before SFE
After SFE
2,408.1989.8
2,221.9845.8
2,970.21,382.5
1,659.9600.7
4,629.91,794.3
3,259.1861.1
2,977.61,074.4
4,085.61,517.3
2,151.2758.4
6,236.81,838.3
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